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Olympic athlete to outline common themes between sport and business during Enterprise Week

Nov 13, 2007

Former world champion athlete Colin Jackson CBE will aim to inspire local companies as he gets Invest Northern Ireland’s Enterprise Week out of the starting blocks in Londonderry this evening.

Colin Jackson CBE spent 16 years ranked amongst the top ten hurdlers in the world, winning numerous World and European championships during his illustrious career, with his inventive approach to training and competition. At tonight’s event, he will reveal how this can be applied to a business context, and help companies gain a competitive edge.

Tonight, and at events in Ballymena and Newry later this week, delegates will also discover how getting off to an efficient start, as well as maximising other qualities such as adaptability, could contribute to high success levels for a business.

Mr Jackson will underline that businesses can also improve their performance at a global level by introducing imaginative processes and developing expertise in the workplace.

Commenting on the topics to be discussed, Mr. Jackson said: “Global businesses and international athletes share many similar attributes as to how they achieve their goals in competitive environments. Innovation, adaptability, creativity, enterprise, determination and passion are all common themes.”

Ian Murphy, Invest NI’s Managing Director of Clients and Entrepreneurship, said: “It will be exciting to hear about the concepts that Colin Jackson applied to his sport, and consider how they can help local companies to develop their business processes and become more competitive. Established companies, new businesses and individuals thinking about starting a business can all learn something from his experiences.”